GMC Yukon

For the second time in three months, Nissan delivered a 2017 Armada for my review. My earlier review offers a thorough inspection of this full-size sport utility vehicle, a model that competes with the likes of the Toyota Sequoia, Ford Expedition, Chevrolet Tahoe, and the GMC Yukon.

In other words, the Nissan Armada competes in a limited segment, one where customers want all the girth and heftiness found in a big SUV — the better to hold seven or more passengers in comfort, carry generous amounts of cargo, and to supply exceptional pulling power. All five models in this segment deliver as advertised.

For a follow-up review, there are two things worth re-examining on closer inspection. These points include:

1. Platinum means luxury.

The Platinum trim represents luxury as evidenced by the standard equipment offered, including 20-inch machine-finished tinted aluminum-alloy wheels, a three-zone entertainment system with dual 7-inch monitors, heated and ventilated front seats, and a power sliding moonroof.

That’s not all you’ll find in the Armada Platinum. This model also comes with a front and rear sonar system with eight embedded sensors tasked with searching for stationary objects to help you avoid them. Audible warning notification is supplied you when you venture too close.

In other words, all the advanced driver assist features are included. Otherwise, choose one the Armada SL trim and you can order these features as part of a $1,770 technology package.

The only package available for the Armada Platinum supplies second-row captain’s chairs with a center console for $450. Fully optioned, you’ll pay about $62,000 for the 2017 Armada — that is, before dealer discounts are taken.

Available leather, wood trim, and a gigantic interior provide the Armada with all the trappings of a premium full-size SUV. Other benefits include very comfortable front seats, a commanding view of the road ahead, a quiet ride, and inconsequential harshness and vibration. As for the audio system, a 13-speaker Bose package is standard across the model line.

2. Performance supplies what you expect in this segment.

A powerful engine is the hallmark of SUVs in this class. For 2017, Nissan updated its 5.6-liter V8 engine, adding direct injection gas and variable valve event & lift systems. As a result, horsepower increased from a fairly tepid (for this class) 317 hp to 390 horses. This engine also has an output of 394 pound-feet of torque. Combined, you’re never at a loss of power.

The other important change has to do with automatic transmission. The previous five-speed automatic was replaced by a seven-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain combination is entirely suited for this model and puts the 2017 Armada on par with its rivals.

When it comes to towing, the 2017 Armada is in the thick of things. It is ahead of the Sequoia’s 7,400-pound towing capacity and matches what both the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe deliver. Only the Ford Expedition beats the Armada as it utilizes a twin-turbo V6 engine to achieve its 9,300-pound towing capacity.

Press hard on the gas pedal and the Armada supplies a confidence-building roar as it moves away from a full stop. Power keeps delivering as you work your way up to highway speed. Once you’re on the highway, you’ll find ample passing power to help you stay ahead of the crowd. Steering feels weighted, although handling is a breeze with the wheel turning whichever way you want with relative ease. Braking is firm to the touch, bringing this near-three-ton workhorse to a firm and confident stop.

2017 Nissan Armada

Shoppers who might have expected the 2017 Armada to share its platform with the current-generation Titan or Titan XD are in for a surprise. This model sells as the Nissan Patrol in global markets, an SUV with a slightly smaller wheelbase, but longer overall than 2015 and earlier Armadas (no 2016 model was produced).

The change results in a healthy 20-percent increase in torsional rigidity, something you’ll notice when navigating twisty roads and wherever body roll is a factor. This feature also makes for a safer vehicle, although no official crash testing has been conducted.

Those sales have come as motorists shift their purchase decisions away from cars to trucks and SUVs, the latter two categories the only vehicle types GMC sells. Although GMC is essentially a premium version of Chevrolet Trucks, customers are not especially put off by the correspondingly higher prices. In fact, the brand’s top-end Denali line continues to attract buyers for this North American-only marque.

Speaking of Denali — the apex of the GMC brand — nearly every press fleet model that comes my way is decorated in Denali trim. Yes, this reality tends to skew my reviews to models that are well appointed, leaving out other trim levels worth considering. Indeed, the latest of the test lot was a 2016 GMC Yukon Denali, the standard wheelbase version of this full-size SUV. It was preceded by a 2016 Yukon XL Denali late last year, an extended wheelbase model with an extra 14 inches between the wheels and 20 inches overall.

2016 GMC Yukon Denali.

2016 GMC Yukon

The 2016 GMC Yukon is priced from $48,315 for the base 4×2 SLE model. Add $3,000 to any trim level for a 4×4 version. GMC prices the SLT edition from $57,000, then jumps to $65,325 for the Yukon Denali. Add a $1,195 destination charge to reach your true base price.

GMC offers two engine choices with the 2016 Yukon. A 5.3-liter, V-8 making 355 horsepower and 383 foot-pounds of torque is standard and comes paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Also available and standard with the Denali trim is a 6.2-liter, V-8 making 403 horsepower and 417 foot-pounds of torque. This engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The Yukon Denali takes an ordinary slab-sided, truck-based SUV and embellishes it with chrome or chrome-like trim. Based on the same platform underpinning GM’s full-size pickup truck line — Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra — the Yukon offers a similarly imposing presentation and comes in about a half-step below the Cadillac Escalade in overall refinement and just ahead of the Chevrolet Tahoe (extended wheelbase models are marketed as the Chevrolet Suburban).

Chrome: Here a Little, There a Little

Think “Denali” and you’ll find chrome nearly everywhere — on the grille, surrounding the front embrasures, across the roof rack, trimming the windows, and in other places, including the wheels, step rails, side trim, and to the rear.

Inside, seating is for eight in the Denali or for seven if the center seat arrangement is replaced with a pair of captain’s chairs as found in the test model. Choose the SLE or SLT editions, and the Yukon offers seating for up to nine.

All Denali models come with an 8-inch color touch screen with navigation and a GMC IntelliLink telematics system. New for 2016 is Apple CarPlay, compatible with many smartphones. Connect with your smartphone and the color display becomes an extension of that same phone. The system is easy to use and helps reduce distractibility.

Close your eyes (not if you’re driving!) and the Yukon Denali may lull you to sleep. With the audio system and every other electronic gadget turned off, you’ll soon appreciate the relative quietness of the big SUV, with little more than a murmuration detected, especially when idling. Generous use of sound deadening materials; substantial, cushy front seats; and a soft ride are among this SUV’s more appealing comfort factors. This SUV was built with your contentment in mind and it succeeds in that endeavor.

Turn on the audio system and you have symphony-like entertainment at the ready, courtesy of a 10-speaker Bose audio system with surround sound. A $2,760 Open Road Package brings in a power sunroof, a rear entertainment system, and extends your satellite radio trial from three months to one year.

Center Captain’s Chairs

If you want an SUV the size of a GMC Yukon and seven seat placements is more than enough, I strongly suggest swapping out the middle bench seat for the two captain’s chairs. The middle chairs are nearly as comfortable as what’s up front, offering excellent support for the shoulders, back, hip, and thigh.

You also get a pair of folding arm rests and you’ll enjoy excellent leg room. Besides, with the captain’s chairs present the passenger sitting in the middle position of the third row is the big winner here with unlimited room to stretch out her legs.

Performance and Handling

As previously mentioned, the Yukon Denali gets the larger of the two V-8 engines, delivering optimum power from the moment you first press down on the accelerator as well as when traveling up and down the power curve. Steering is light to the touch with handling uninvolved, yet ideal for making tight turns. Body roll, common to high-profile vehicles is noticeable when taking the twisties. Also, you may find yourself holding tight to the steering wheel when crossing a bridge as side winds buffet the SUV — a common experience with any SUV, not just the Yukon Denali.

Pulling upwards of 8,500 pounds is another bonus feature, plus more than 1,500 pounds of payload. The power boost translates into a one mpg drop in fuel economy, an inconsequential number, especially these days.

Another option for GMC fans is the Acadia, a crossover sport utility vehicle. The 2016 edition is the last for this first-generation model and offers room for seven. Wait a few months and the all-new, second-generation 2017 Acadia hits the market, coming in slightly smaller and up to 700 pounds lighter than the outgoing SUV. GMC began the redesign of the Acadia when fuel prices were still sky high — with just under seven inches removed between the wheels and just over seven inches overall.

Safety Considerations

Sheer size is one of the top safety attributes for any large SUV. While the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not rated this model, it offers a suite of airbags including the only front center airbag. The usual stability and traction control systems, electronic brake-force distribution, hill-start assist, and brake assist are also present.

Driver-assist technologies can also be had and are standard on the Denali. These features include side blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision alert, and adaptive cruise control with front automatic braking. Front and rear park assist, lane keep assist, automatic headlamps, and a safety alert seat are also standard.

GMC Yukon and Competitors

Even so, me thinks that people whose eyes are set on the Yukon or Yukon XL will want nothing less than the largest and most upscale of GMC products. In that case, you may hardly consider the competitors with the Ford Expedition, Toyota Sequoia, and the Nissan Armada named among them. Without question, include the Lincoln Navigator for good measure.